Crystal Valley Lights the Way!
Outdoor décor in Castle Rock is always a treat, and in the next week or two, we’ll publish routes for lighted residential drives, minutes from Crystal Valley. And speaking of outdoors, we let nature do the landscaping in this master-planned community where new homes from new D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes and Richmond American Homes are priced from the high $300s.
There’s a reason why people slow down to take in holiday decorations – our community in Crystal Valley is no different! We’re all spellbound by colored lights, ornaments, ribbons and bows. For traffic-stopping outdoor holiday décor, check out these ideas to hang a little holiday cheer.
Light Up Your Life (and Yard!)
Better Homes and Gardens shows you how to “string” lights in your planters and add a shimmery ribbon around the top. To festive up a birdbath, center a wreath on top with red lights and mini-ornaments. BHG also offers creative ideas for your mailbox and window sills.
Solar lights eliminate the need for tangled extension cords (not to mention an eye-popping electric bill!). After charging all day solar lights automatically switch on when it gets dark outside.
If the idea of hanging lights from your roof and around your trees leaves you tied up in knots, check out Walmart’s spiral trees to gussy up your lawn. And Amazon’s selection of pre-lit, battery-operated wreaths for your door are available in pine boughs (with and without pinecones), flocked or with red and gold berries.
If the days are flying by too fast or you’re not in the mood to DIY, ChristmasLightsEtc.com not only has ideas, they have easy-to-install holiday décor. From glowing reindeer to huge, colorful illuminated Christmas balls, you can go minimal or go crazy layering on the lights. And until December 11, the site has an enter-to-win, $1,000 shopping spree promotion!
Architecture Art Designs says it has the “40 best outdoor Christmas lighting ideas” for the season – but we’ll let you decide from the few dozen pictures of home exteriors on its site.
Fewer Lights, More Décor
Another way to take it easy on your energy bill is to plug into HGTV’s 35 crafty holiday ideas. Two that we especially like: adding a 
layer of rock salt to mason jars and nestling a votive candle in the center of each. The candles provide hours of illumination as they light the way for holiday guests.
DIYCrafts has another 20 resourceful ideas for outdoors that are inexpensive (think dollar store) and fun to make. From concrete holiday gift boxes and straw starbursts to pallet Christmas trees and giant ornaments made from plastic balls.
The Cozy Old Farmhouse repurposed vintage finds to assemble holiday flavor country-style, and All Things Heart and Home used a different mason-jar-and-lights effect to spread more Christmas cheer.
For 1,000 more outdoor holiday décor ideas, look up snapshots on Pinterest to find a quick-and-easy wood-pallet nativity scene and a garage-door snowman!
Crystal Valley is a holiday-friendly community! Temporary holiday lighting does not require pre-approval by the HOA Design Review Committee (DRC), but please remember to be respectful of your neighbors. As a reminder, all temporary holiday lights must be removed within 30 days after the holiday celebration, and shall meet the Town of Castle Rock Dark Sky Ordinance.
